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Date of these obituaries: 12-28-2002
William McElhinney, caring doctor
Dr. William Thomas McElhinney had a reputation for caring more about his patients than about the business end of his medical practice.
"He'd send out one bill -- if no payment came back, that was the end of it, " said Tom McElhinney of Covington, a son.
"In the '50s and '60s, when most people didn't have medical insurance, he was mindful of that. And he never billed a minister, a priest or a nun. He might have collected a third of what he actually earned.
"His example showed us he cared more about caring for people than dollars."
Dr. McElhinney, of Fort Thomas, died Dec. 18 at home. He was 87.
Dr. McElhinney grew up in rural Iowa, attended the University of Iowa on a pole-vaulting scholarship and graduated from the Medical School at the University of Iowa in 1939. He married
his college sweetheart, Ruth Ludwigson, and remained married
for 63 years.
Ten years ago, when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, he took care of her. For six of those years, she was bedridden.
"He would tell us he was down to one patient, " Tom McElhinney said. "He'd say, `Ruthie's my last patient.'"
He came to Greater Cincinnati in 1939 to take an internship at Cincinnati General Hospital. During World War II, he was a Group Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Corps with the 479th fighter group stationed in England.
In 1948, he became chief resident of surgery at UC and launched his private practice of surgery in Northern Kentucky the following year. He was admitted to the American College of Surgeons in 1951.
Dr. McElhinney was on the board of directors for the Covington YMCA for 10 years, deacon at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church for six years and an instructor of surgery at UC from 1945 to '60.
From 1964 to '68, he was chief of surgery at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Covington, and chief of surgery at the old Booth Hospital in Covington for two years until 1972.
He was involved with "Call the Doctor, " a program sponsored by the Cincinnati Surgical Society, from 1965 to 1975. He also served as track doctor at Turfway Park in Florence.
His wife preceded him in death in April.
Other survivors include a daughter, Ann Kirlin of Laguna Beach, Calif.; sons, Peter McElhinney of Independence, Bob McElhinney Hudson, Ohio, and Mark McElhinney of Dayton; sisters, Cherry Olson of Ann Arbor, Mich., Josephine Joiner of Muscatine, Iowa, and Julia DeWatne of Philadelphia, Pa.; a brother, Joseph McElhinney of Boise, Idaho; and 15 grandchildren.
Services will be at 8 p.m. Friday, January 3, at Muehlenkmap-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. January 3 at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Pat McAtee Scholarship Fund, 321 Riverside Drive, Covington, Ky. 41011.
Ruth Lee Boehler, 76, of Elkhart, Ind., formerly of Newport and Peru, Ind., died at 3:27 a.m. Friday at Elkhart General Hospital.
She was retired from Miami Cass REMC, was a former employee of Eckrich Meats, Peru, and a member of Winding Waters Brethren Church, Elkhart, Pace Setters group of Winding Waters Brethren Church and the Moose lodges in Elkhart, and Peru.
Survivors include her husband, Norbert G. Boehler; a son, Dennis Boehler of Elkhart; and a sister, Betty Strubbe of Apopka, Fla.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Winding Waters Brethren Church. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart, and from 9 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Winding Waters Brethren Church, 420 County Road 4 West, Elkhart, Ind. 46514.
Delia Rose Bolin, 59, of Newport, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Tucker of Reading, Ohio; sons, Karl Bolin Jr. and William Bolin, both of Newport; her mother, Martha Venters of Amelia, Ohio; sisters, Wilma Bolin of Winter Haven, Fla., Susan Vaught of Newport, Virginia Hensky and Vicky Partin, both of Amelia, Ohio, Elizabeth Stewart of Dayton and Martha Riley of Silver Grove; brothers, Harold Venters of Miami Beach, Fla., Bob Venters of Sterling Heights, Mich., and Christopher Venters of Amelia; and nine grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at TLC Funeral and Cremation Service, Covington. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will be at Southwest Ohio Crematory, Milford, Ohio.
Dolores "Dody" Jean Dammert, 67, of Augusta, died Friday at Christ Hospital, Cincinnati. She was an underwriter for Western Southern Life Insurance and a member of Augusta Christian Church.
Survivors include her father, Stanley "Chub" Dammert; and sisters, Diane Claypool of Augusta and Dorinda Perkins of Dover.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Mount Zion Cemetery, Augusta. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, Augusta. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, 745 W. Main St., Louisville, Ky. 40202.
Elsie Mae Hunt Davenport, 75, of Maysville, died at 11:41 a.m. Thursday at Meadowview Regional Medical Center, Maysville. She was a homemaker and a salad maker for Caproni's Restaurant, Maysville. Her husband, William E. Davenport, died in 1978.
Survivors include her daughter, Donna Jefferson of Lewisburg; sons, Arthur Davenport of Aberdeen, Ohio, Daniel A. Davenport of Georgetown, Ohio, Steven Davenport of Manchester, Ohio, and Mervin Davenport of Lucasville, Ohio; brothers, Virgil W. Hunt of Mason County and Leo T. Hunt, Huston R. Hunt and Ollie Hunt, all of Fleming County; sisters, Pauline Davenport of Maysville and Merrell Hunt of Mason County; 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Brell Funeral Home, Maysville. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in O'Cull Family Cemetery, Maysville.
Isabel Catherine Dewberry, 91, of Fort Thomas, died at 3:20 a.m. Thursday at The Highlands of Fort Thomas Nursing Home.
She was a homemaker and a member of New Hope United Methodist Church, Southgate. Her husband, Clarence Dewberry, died in 1984.
Survivors include a son, Kenneth Dewberry of Cold Spring, three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to New Hope United Methodist Church, 22 Blatt Ave., Southgate, Ky. 41071.
Lorena Grace Hill, 88, of Erlanger, died Thursday at Villa Springs Care Center, Erlanger. She was a homemaker and a member of Kentaboo Baptist Church. Her husband, Robert "Jack" Hill Sr., died in 1975.
Survivors include daughters, Diana McEntee of Erlanger and Rose Marie Finn of Cape Coral, Fla.; a son, Robert M. Hill of Union; a brother, Melbourne Butler of Villa Hills; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw. Visitation will be form 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Warsaw Cemetery.
Sarah Ellen Hoskins, 88, of Cincinnati, formerly of Northern Kentucky, died Friday at Meadowbrook Care Center, Cincinnati. She was a homemaker and a member of Faith Baptist Church, Mason, Ohio. Her husband, John Hoskins, died in 1979. Sons, Luther Hoskins, Woodrow Hoskins and Billy Hoskins, and a daughter, Phyllis Hoskins, all preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Charles E. Hoskins of Norwood, Ohio, and Carlos R. Hoskins, Doug Hoskins, Henry F. Hoskins, and John Hoskins, all of Cincinnati; daughters, Nancy L. Brown, Catherine Jackson and Anna R. Williams, all of Cincinnati; brothers, Loy Widener of Florence, Kenneth Widener of Detroit, Mich., Corum Widener of Newport; sisters, Lucy Hendrickson of Hemlock, N.Y., Minnie Carter of Williamsburg, Anna Lefevers of Dearborn Heights, Mich., and Mary Widener of Cincinnati; 22 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hughes Chapel Cemetery, Union.
Kim R. Jorgensen, 46, of Florence, died Thursday at his home. He was a customer service representative with Delta Airlines.
Survivors include sons, Robert Jorgensen and Scott Jorgensen, both of Covington; parents, Beverly and Ron Jorgensen of Huron, S.D.; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Geraldine Elizabeth Yeager Matherly, 85, of Newport, died Friday at Continental Manor Nursing Home, Blanchester, Ohio. She was a clerk with AT&T; Telephone Co., and a member of First Baptist Church, Newport, and AT&T; Pioneers.
Survivors include her husband, Carl Matherly; sons, Albert Meyer of Webster, Fla., and David Meyer of Latonia; a daughter, Betty West of Blanchester, Ohio; a sister, Dorothy Groneck of Fort Thomas; a brother, William Yeager of Sacramento, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Ruth Mill, 95, formerly of Fort Wright, died Thursday at Zionville Meadows Nursing Home, Indianapolis, Ind.
She was a homemaker and a member of Macedonia Christian Church, Okeana, Ohio, and the Covington Art Club. Her husband, John Stuart Mill, died in 1985.
Survivors include her son, John Stuart Mill II of Indianapolis, Ind.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Erlanger Christian Church. Visitation will be from noon until the time of services Monday at the church. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to the Christian Church Foundation, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206.
Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow, is handling the arrangements.
Judith Mae Townsend Park, 57, of Burlington, died Wednesday at her home. She was a former bookkeeper at Wert's Music and Ammons Landscape.
Survivors include a sister, Carolyn Townsend of Florence; and a brother, Mike Townsend of Port Royal.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Walton. Burial will be in Warsaw Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042; or American Lung Association, Bluegrass Regional Office, 1636 Nicholasville Road, Suite 1, Lexington, Ky. 40503.
Ernest Ray Peace, 54, of Dayton, died Friday at Woodspoint Nursing Home, Florence. He was a musician with various bands in Northern Kentucky and an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include daughters, Samantha Lawhorn of Fairfield, Ohio, and Jennifer Medley of Middletown, Ohio; a son, Allen Peace of Bellevue; mother, Juanita Peace of Dayton; sisters, Vada Dill of Alexandria and Diane Jeffress of Taft, Calif.; a brother, Paul Peace of Amelia, Ohio; and three grandchildren.
Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue, is handling arrangements.
Bernice Roden, 83, of Erlanger, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker. Her husband, Franklin Roden, died in 1980.
Survivors include a sister, Margaret Rigney of Ludlow.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sts. Boniface and James Church, Ludlow. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association, 1885 Dixie Highway, Suite 250, Fort Wright, Ky. 41011.
Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow, is handling the arrangements.
Dortha "Dot" Ryan, 72, of Southgate, died at 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was the former owner of Southern Lanes in Alexandria. Her husband, Harold Ryan, died in 1991.
Survivors include a daughter, Brenda Ryan of Newport; sons, Brent Ryan of Cold Spring, Carl L. Ryan of Southgate, Donald Ryan of Covington, and Richard Ryan and Wally Ryan, both of Alexandria; a sister, Joan Hooper of Portland, Ore.; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Alexandria Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to ASSEOAPA, P.O. Box 222, Alexandria, Ky. 41001.
Elaine Schuh, 77, of Bellevue, died Thursday at University Hospital, Cincinnati. She was a clerk at the Campbell County Library and a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Dayton. Her husband, Frank Schuh, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Darlene Grace Morrison of Bellevue; and sisters, Faye Bressler of Cold Spring, Lois Connor of Dayton, Ohio, and Mary Hoffman of Bellevue.
Services will be at noon Monday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Robert D. Shambaugh, 79, formerly of Bromley, died Thursday at Village Care Center, Erlanger. He was a maintenance manager with First Federal Savings and Loan, Covington, and a former employee of CG&E.;
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Shambaugh of Erlanger.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow, is handling the arrangements.
Rex A. Sheedy, 52, of Burlington, died Friday at his home. He was a senior customer service agent in air logistics for Delta Airlines, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Burlington, and an Air Force veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie Sheedy; sons, Don Sheedy of McHenry, Ill., and Paul Dunn of Dayton, Ohio; daughters, Tammy Pearl of Island Lake, Ill., and Felicia Dunn of Burlington; mother, Velma Sheedy of Palmer, Ill.; and six grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Burlington. Visitation will be form 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Burial will be in Burlington Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Lung Association, P.O. Box 23872, Lexington, Ky. 40523-3872.
Deborah Lee Thomas, 51, of Covington, died Friday at St Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a factory worker at Keco and a member of the Kentucky Motorcycle Association.
Survivors include her husband, David Thomas; daughters, Star Thomas and Angela Thomas, both of Covington; sons, Johnny Lee Poe of Cincinnati and Michael Thomas, Wesley Thomas, Patrick Thomas and James Thomas, all of Covington; sisters, Roxanne Hopper of Union, Kathy Nace of Covington, Michelle Gay of Clearwater, Fla., Toni Ray of Hebron and Elizabeth Nace of Cynthiana; a brother, Richard Nace of Clearwater; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Tuesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. Cremation will be in Southwest Ohio Crematory, Milford, Ohio. Memorials are suggested to David Thomas, 3933 Wolf Road, Covington, Ky. 41015.
Thomas A. Weldon, 87, of Warsaw, died Thursday at Gallatin Health Care Center, Warsaw. He was a retired psychiatrist in Covington, a member of the medical staffs at the St. Luke Hospitals and St. Elizabeth Medical Centers, Military Order of World Wars, the VFW, American Legion, Kentucky Historical Society, Gallatin County Historical Society, Christopher Gist Historical Society, Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy and St. Joseph Catholic Church, Warsaw. He was a World War II veteran of the Army, and saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity, the Allied airborne invasion of Germany. Daughters Margaret Weldon died in 1990 and Katherine Carabello died in 1991.
Survivors include his wife, Harold Brown Weldon; sons, Thomas B. Weldon of Signal Mountain, Frank E. Weldon of Houston, Texas, and Robert B. Weldon of Covington; and seven grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Church, Warsaw. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday at Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw. Burial will be in Warsaw Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Disease Association, 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1100, Chicago, Ill. 60611-1676.
